Dumbledore's Purpose

Because they still had matters to attend to, Professor McGonagall and Professor Sprout left early, close to noon.

Then Mr. Weasley also had to return to the Ministry of Magic early because of some business.

The Ministry had only just finished rebuilding, and this was its busiest time. It was already no easy feat for people like them to take half a day off.

As Moody was preparing to leave, Kyle found him first and asked, "Alastor, are you sure that Bathilda is really herself?"

"I can't guarantee there's no problem." Moody's blue magical eye spun rapidly several times. "But so far, I haven't found anything suspicious. She hasn't had anything to drink for nearly three hours, so we can rule out Polyjuice Potion. As for the Imperius Curse... with Dumbledore here, she can't do anything."

After saying that, Moody limped beyond the protective magic on his prosthetic leg and Apparated away.

"Yeah, with Dumbledore here, there really isn't much to worry about," Kyle muttered softly.

But having someone stare at him the whole time was hardly comfortable. After thinking for a moment, Kyle decided to get to the bottom of it.

He walked over to Bathilda. Before he could say anything, the old witch launched into a scolding.

"Why are you still here?!"

"What?" Kyle was caught off guard, unable to understand what she meant... Why couldn't he be here?

"Well, I came to Lupin and Tonks's wedding," he said. "Mrs. Bathilda, you..."

"Why haven't you gone to apologize to Aberforth?" Bathilda said again, but this only left Kyle even more confused.

Aberforth?

He should still be at the Hog's Head Inn in Hogsmeade, keeping that goat company. Why would Kyle need to apologize to him?

Yet the next second, he heard a name that absolutely should not have